Examples of Nonverbal Communication

Tap to Read ➤ Puja Lalwani

More than half of our interactions with each other are nonverbal. While overlooked by many, this type of communication impacts our relationships greatly. Here are a few examples of the various types of nonverbal communication.

You may have tried every trick in the book, but somehow you are not able to maintain strong relationships, either personal or professional. Where are you going wrong? This is probably because your body language does not complement your speech. This is a common problem faced by many.

You may speak with a lot of conviction, but your eyes or posture may speak otherwise. This is what we call nonverbal communication, and it is a set of hand eye movements, expressions, postures, and gestures.

An Overview of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication, also known as body language, is an inevitable part of our personality. When we speak, we also give out several nonverbal signals that sometimes work to intensify what is already being said, or sometimes contradicts what we are saying.

This communication can be a give-away simply because it is hard to control this kind of communication. In several cases, you may communicate simply by means of nonverbal communication. As it is said "eyes speak more than words", is an example of nonverbal communication.

Nonverbal communication primarily comprises gestures, posture, touch, space, and facial expressions. As aforementioned, these may either complement or contradict what we say. Body language leaves a huge impact on relationships, both personal or professional. Many of these nonverbal signs are so subtle that we are not even aware of them.

Examples

There are several types of nonverbal communication that may be evaluated on the basis of certain examples.

Facial Expressions

When reading facial expressions, some of these examples may help you.

» Maintaining eye contact is a sign of confidence and positivity, and avoiding eye contact is clearly indicative of negative or unfriendly body language. The latter implies that the person may be lying, or fears confrontation.

» The smile is another give-away when it comes to facial expressions. While a soft smile is a soft expression that is encouraging, a rigid smile or a smirk may be a sign of contempt.

» Raised eyebrows are a sign of surprise, and also suggest mockery or sarcasm. It can even be a natural physical trait of some people, and they may do it without realizing; know the kind of effect it can have on others, before judging the facial expression.

» Frowning is another facial expression that we tend to assume when under stress. This gives out the message that we are unapproachable and cold.

Posture and other Movements

Postures are included in nonverbal communication and explained with a few examples.

» Standing erect shows confidence.

» Keeping the shoulders rigid again gives a sign that you may be unapproachable. Now, this affects the kind of people you attract towards you.

» Constant fiddling with everything in sight is a sign of anxiety, frustration, boredom, and lack of interest.

» Standing with your hands on your waist, combined with your facial expressions may be a clear sign of anger or frustration that you are trying to hold back.

Gestures

Gestures animate the conversations we have with others. We point, we wave, and use all sorts of gestures while we are talking.

» For instance, you may be constantly rubbing your neck, or the back of your ear, which is a sign of discomfort and lack of confidence.

» If you are angry, you may be clenching your fists to control your anger, or in preparation for a physical attack.

» Rubbing hands together indicates excitement and readiness to engage in an activity.

» Shrugging may show a lack of interest.

Touch

Even touch plays an important role in nonverbal communication.

» When your boss is praising you, and pats you on the back, it is a sign of genuine liking for you and your work.

» A firm handshake is the sign of confidence.

» We all know the reassuring effect of a warm hug.

» Someone who holds your arms while talking is either trying to make a statement, or to portray that he/she is in control.

Space

We all have a physical space around us. Sometimes we find people invading that personal space, which may portray any of the following. » Intimacy » Affection » Dominance » Aggression

This does not mean that someone maintaining a decent physical distance is trying to keep away from you. It only means that the person knows his/her place and respects your personal space, provided you don't share a very close relationship.

Understanding body language may take a while. To pick up nonverbal cues requires you to watch out for them intently, and learn how to complement the right cues with the spoken word, so you don't give the wrong message. Once you are able to do that, you will definitely minimize the chances of misconceptions and misunderstandings about others, and yourself.